I'm a beauty editor, which means trend-spotting is a very real part of my job. Whether it's predicting the bixie would be the number one short haircut of 2026 (so far, so good) or fully immersing myself in an obsession with mermaid waves, I'm constantly talking about all things hair. This year, the top summer hair trends can be summed up with one word: effortlessness.
It girls are swapping high-maintenance hair colors for easy, blended, natural-looking ones. Whether blonde, brunette, or somewhere in between, these colors require little upkeep and few salon appointments to keep them looking fresh. In fact, the more natural and grown-out they look, the better.
Recently, there's been one natural-looking hair-color trend filling up my IG feed, and I can't lie… I'm highly influenced to embrace it, like, yesterday. I'm talking about "teddy bear bronde." It's a warm, sun-kissed, and caramel-like color that celebs like Hailey Bieber and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley have already cosigned. Keep scrolling to learn why it's taking over in summer 2026 and how to maintain it once you have it, according to experts.
What is teddy bear bronde?
First things first, what is teddy bear bronde? The last word is the key. Bronde is a combo of blonde and brunette. It's a caramel-colored in-between—not exactly light, not exactly dark. "This technique involves creating soft, delicate highlights that are slightly lighter than the natural hair color (no more than two levels lighter)," Revlon R&D salon expert stylists tell me. "The highlights are carefully blended and seamlessly diffused throughout the hair to avoid harsh regrowth lines and ensure a natural-looking transition as the hair grows out."
The aim, they say, is to re-create the natural lightened effect that you'd get from being out in the sun. It's all about "adding brightness, dimension, and movement while preserving the harmony of the base color." The result is sun-kissed, luminous, and sophisticated.
If executed properly by a stylist, "the technique allows the natural regrowth to blend seamlessly, avoiding the traditional root effect and ensuring a soft, gradual transition as the hair grows. This makes the highlights a low-maintenance service, reducing the need for frequent salon visits while maintaining a polished and natural appearance," they tell me. As someone who loves a low-maintenance hair color, I'm sold.
How to Achieve Teddy Bear Bronde
It's one thing to know which color you want; it's another to communicate it to your hairstylist. While inspiration pics are always recommended, the experts have a few tips to ensure you get a true teddy bear bronde. "A clear way to request this service in the salon is to explain that you would like to add brightness and dimension to your hair in a natural-looking way without creating strong contrasts," they explain. "The goal is to achieve subtle highlights that are one to two levels lighter than your base color while maintaining harmony with your hair's natural undertones and reflect."
Depending on your current base color, soft beige and light brown are typically recommended, as they enhance movement and dimension without looking unnatural. "The result is an elegant, luminous, and effortlessly natural look—as though the hair has been gently lightened by the sun over time," they add.
How to Care for Teddy Bear Bronde Hair
Teddy bear bronde is about as low-maintenance as you can get, but that doesn't mean an at-home haircare routine can't extend the stunning, sun-kissed aesthetic. "To further extend the longevity of the result, the stylist may recommend a personalized at-home maintenance routine using color-depositing products such as shampoos, masks, or pigmented serums. These products help preserve the desired tone, reflect, and color balance while maintaining the hair's cosmetic quality, shine, and overall health between salon appointments," the stylists say.
Moisturizing and strand-strengthening products are also key. They enhance the luminous look of the color and keep color-processed hair in check. (I don't know about you, but my hair always feels so weak after a color appointment, and don't even get me started on split ends.) Below, see a selection of the best nourishing and strand-strengthening haircare products.
Per the name, Revlon's Colorsilk After Color line is perfect for strengthening hair post-salon appointment. This conditioner strengthens damaged molecular bonds in the hair shaft, and keeps color intact.
Don't forget the matching shampoo.
This hair serum prevents color fading by forming a protective shield. It also boosts hydration, strengthens hair, and reduces split ends by a whopping 99%.
A good shine serum like this will enhance the luminosity of teddy bear bronde.
Fine-haired people (like me) will love the volume and bounce you get from this.
For no-heat days, I rely on an air-dry cream to keep my hair looking polished.
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